There’s a certain amount of fear that coexists with owning a business. Typically, an entrepreneur sets goals for their business; their individual expectations for growth and income. That’s great! As an entrepreneur, you’ll need a way to measure your progress and make adjustments along the way as needed.
Sometimes we set the bar too low. We are afraid to stick our neck out in fear of suffering disappointment. Therefore, our expectations are relative to the amount of letdown we can tolerate without throwing our hands up and tucking tail. The problem with this way of thinking is that we are settling for less than we deserve.
Get Over Yourself
Limiting yourself to stay within the confines of your comfort zone is a cop-out. Most likely, you didn’t start this business to “just get by” or to “play it safe”. Something caught your attention. Something moved you. Maybe it was the idea of being your own boss, or maybe your business is aimed at providing help for the less fortunate… but something sparked your desire to go out on your own.
Be honest with yourself. Don’t be afraid to reach for the stars and dream big. Disappointment is going to happen no matter the enormity of your expectations; don’t play the victim and claim you’re avoiding struggles. The only thing you’re really avoiding is more success.
Hard Work Pays Off
Nothing good comes for free. If you want a bigger payout, you’re going to have to work for it. Oftentimes we let fear of failure keep us just below the radar. We aren’t losing, but we aren’t really trying to win the race either. Why not? Why not go for it? After all, if you put in the work, you’re likely to see better results.
Your expectations and performance go hand in hand. If you aren’t willing to perform, don’t be ashamed of your results. If you keep your expectations low to avoid being disappointed, then your results will reflect this lack of expectation.
The cold hard truth is you’re starting a business from the ground up. You get to make it as easy or as hard as you want it. If you want big results, you’re going to have to do the work to get there. If you’re satisfied with mediocre results, then keep doing what you are doing.
Most likely though, if you’re really genuine with yourself about it, you want more, and you can have more. There’s nothing more satisfying than conquering something difficult. If you don’t grab the biggest star the first time you reach for it, try a different approach. Just don’t fall into the rabbit hole of believing it’s a failure and you were a fool to dream big. It’s foolish not to dream big!
Examine Established Practices
In business, especially small businesses, we get into routines. Orders are taken a certain way. Orders are filled a certain way, and for the most part, you no doubt believe it’s efficient. It happens to be what has always worked for you. However, are you doing what you do, just to stay in your comfort zone? Do you feel there could be a better way, but afraid to try in case it won’t work?
When you find even small improvements which can be made to your established practices, you might find your expectations need adjusting as well. Go ahead and raise the bar. If it doesn’t work, go back to the drawing board and try again. That’s the beauty of running your own business.
What you expect to get from your business relies heavily on how much effort you’re willing to put into it. Becoming an entrepreneur was a huge and deliciously terrifying feat, but you did it. Limiting your success because you are afraid to be disappointed is just as illogical as using a cup to fill your bathtub. Use the tools right in front of you and make your best life happen.